Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-13
Education of Farmers.
American Cultivator.


While it is not to infer that farmers
are uneducated, or Ia any sense inferior
to other classes intelligence, yet there
is greater educational expansion, which
should not be overlooked. It was but a
decade since 'sbook farming" was derid-
ed as a pastime, resulting in great ex-
pense and no profit; but at the present
day shook farming" is considered lndis-
pensable in conducting practical opera
tions on the farm. The "bOok farmer
as the phrase is understood, may not
have been an adept in the use of imple-
ments, may have lacked skill at the pillow
and IN feeding and knowledge of tn Q
proper mode of expenditure; but Will @
he was lacking in practical experience"
he was always aiming for the best of
everything, and, by experiments, educated
his neighbors. Though he knew nothing
about milking a COW, yet he could at a
glance, separate the different breeds of
stock and mate them for the best of re-
SUITS and his knowledge of fertilizers,
varieties of plants and peculiarities of
soils was often far in advance of his
more practical neighbors. While his
efforts were often failures, they always
tended to better system of cultivation
and the introduction of superior stock
in the section in which he operated.
IF the skilled and practical artisan con-
siders it his duty to make a practice of
architecture, mechanical drawings and
specifications, with the advantage of
books giving the experience and designs
of others, there is no reason for the far
mer to refuse kindred privileges for him
self. A knowledge of the progress made
in his calling can be gained only by study
and practical experiment upon the theo-
ries advanced. There are hundreds of
farmers who are experts in the manage
ment of dairy, yet who give little or no
attention to the classification of stock;
and some of the most successful of nor
ticulturists have no idea of how the vari-
cites of fruit cultivated by them were
produced.
Though farmers, like all other classes
may be benefited by knowledge, they are
not as slow as generally supposed. Every
season there are great number of con
YentiOns held to consider agricultural
subjects, and at the recent Fat Stock
Show there were twenty-one meetings of
breedere of different classes of stock,
representing every section of the country.
But the masses are best educated not on
ly by the study of agricultural literature,
bat the meetings In each locality. 1t is
at such meetings that the practical and
theoretical can be compared, ana the ex-
periments and opinions of every member
given. A great advantage of local meet
ings is the facility OF inspection of the
farms of such sections and direct com
parison of growing crops, as we'll as the
lively stock possessed by each, which
affords an opportunity as TO the younger
members, infusiDg in them a spirit of
progress which is sure to result in benefit
in the future, and to render agriculture
more and more profitable.
Sheep Experience.
Mr.. Davidson, of Charlton, n. Y, favors
the farm Journal with some of his sheep
experiences. He began with full-blOOded
Merinos and crossed them with a Lieces-
ter ram. This was in war time when
coarse wool was in demand. This cross
made large sheep and he sold some for
S10a head. He crossed these Leicester
Meinos with South Downs, and kept
these cross bred sheep until three years
ago, when he got a GOld-Drop Merino
ram, and bred a flock of Merino South
Downs with little of the old Leicester
cross in them. He saved sixteen eve
lambs of this cross, an they are the best
sheep he ever had. They all have white
faces, are square built, broad, short-legged
and wonderfully hardy. They are grand
suckers. The lambs sell for almost as
much as the all coarse-wooled ones and
they shear more wool. The first year
the whole sixteen only lacked one pound
and half of shearing seven pounds each
of washed wool thout any tags in it.
The next year they averaged six and a
half pounds each. These lambs and
sheep were wintered on hay alone. The
wool Is nearly there inches long and brings
the highest price. One buck lamb was
wintered and killed in the spring, and
his pelt when dry weighed tEenty-one
pounds. His notion is that the very best
way is to use a Merino buck on coarse
wooded ewes. In this way one gets more
feshy compact lambs, and such will be
ready for the butcher sooner than the
cross the other way. Then, again, the
ewes will afford more milk and the lambs
will grow faster. If grain is fed to sheep
it must be fed with care, or 1T will do
more hurt than good. Sheep should be
fed regula rly with food which is suited
to them. They will never do good on
coarse or swale hay, and timothy is not
good for them. Glover is best; red-top
is good or fine, old mellow hay. They
should be kept dry, and at the same time
they must have good air and some
exercise. Mr.. Davidson lets his sheep
out in the yard every pleasant afternoon,
and all the rest of the time keeps them in
stable where they are dry. They should
have water whenever they want it, and
not be made to get very thirsty and then
be given all they will drink. This excess
of cold water ehils them brings on stom-
ach troubles. His sheep made the best of
mutton, and will weigh alive from $50 to
1 z pounds. He recommends farmers to
use large Merino bucks on the coarse
wooded ewes in order to get a more hardy
and better sheep.